Yemeni forces have shot dead 10 followers of an anti-U.S. cleric in clashes in the mountainous north of the county and seized some of their bases, a Yemeni security source said on Thursday.

According to Reuters, he said Wednesday's clash brought to more than 60 the number of supporters of Hussein al-Houthi killed since June 20, when Yemeni troops launched an offensive against Houthi's "Believing Youth" group in Saada province.

Sources close to Houthi have put the death toll from the clashes at about 200. yemeni sources said nine policemen also died and 10 have been wounded.

Yemeni authorities claim Houthi, a leader of the Zaidi Shi'ite sect, also heads the group which has staged protests against the United States and Israel.

They have accused him of establishing and training an armed group and attacking mosques and preachers in Saada province.

Meanwhile, 26 September weekly said the Theological Dialogue Committee started last Sunday and Monday dialogue sessions with a group of al-Houthi's followers, who were arrested in the recent clashes.

The committee held two initial sessions with 220 of al-al-Houthi's supporters, who accepted the dialogue on the base of the Qura'an and Sonna, the report added.